State agencies

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development announced Wednesday afternoon that it allegedly has been cheated out of $2.4
million in unemployment insurance benefits. Fifteen people have been indicted for allegedly scheming to use fake companies
to claim benefits.

The Indiana Court of Appeals has found the trial court should have granted summary judgment to a Department of Correction
employee on a man's claim that he was personally deprived a liberty interest when the DOC refused to remove his name from
the sex offender registry.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in larger buses, the spacing and height of the seats offer
crash protection for children through “compartmentalization.” But opinions remain divided about whether compartmentalization
does enough to protect students and whether school bus seat belts should be required by law.

The Indiana Court of Appeals has determined a Marion County judge properly granted summary judgment in favor of a group of
insurance companies because the city of Evansville was seeking coverage for projects aimed at preventing future sewer discharges,
rather than remediating past discharges, which wouldn’t be covered by the policies.

The Indiana Supreme Court has held that the notices sent by the state Family and Social Services Administration to inform
applicants they were denied Medicaid, food stamps, or family assistance benefits are unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment’s
due process clause because they do not sufficiently explain the reasons for being denied.

The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld the decision to release a surface mining reclamation bond obtained by a mining company,
finding the reclamation requirements of the Indiana Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act have been satisfied.

The Indiana Supreme Court has affirmed the outcome of a case between Family and Social Services Administration and a decertified
intermediate care facility, in which the net result was a wash for both sides.

Gov. Mitch Daniels has appointed Sen. Connie Lawson, R-Danville, as Indiana secretary of state. She fills the vacancy left
by Charlie White, who was recently convicted of several felonies, making him ineligible to hold office.

The Indiana Supreme Court has held that Charlie White was eligible to assume the office of secretary of state after being
elected to that post in the 2010 general election. The justices point out the average voter was aware of concerns surrounding
White’s voter registration history and they will not, on the basis of the petition before them, “judicially disenfranchise
voters who went to the polls.”

The Indiana Supreme Court has found that the Indiana Tax Court erred in requiring the state revenue department to produce
more evidence of a proposed assessment of additional tax liability for a corporation.

The Indiana Child Advocates Network and the State Office of GAL/CASA of the Division of State Court Administration held a
rally at the Indiana Statehouse Monday morning to highlight the need for and the importance of court appointed special advocates.

The Indiana Court of Appeals has found that a trial court erred in concluding that the Family and Social Services Administration’s
preferred claim for reimbursement of Medicaid benefits against an estate was not timely filed.

For the sixth consecutive year, the Marion County clerk’s office was transformed into a wedding chapel on Valentine’s
Day, and Clerk Beth White performed civil marriage ceremonies to raise money for the American Heart Association’s “Go
Red for Women” campaign.

The Indiana Supreme Court has adjusted the time frame for which state non-merit employees who sued for back pay may be able
to recover funds. Instead of the period going back some 20 years, the justices decided the non-merit employee’s time
period should be the same as merit employees.

On the same day it heard arguments, the Indiana Supreme Court reversed a Marion Superior judge’s ruling and held that
Gov. Mitch Daniels does not have to testify or be deposed in an ongoing lawsuit over the cancelled contract to modernize the
state’s welfare system.

The Indiana Supreme Court accepted two civil cases last week on transfer, in addition to the two-high profile appeals involving
legislative fines against lawmakers and Secretary of State Charlie White.

After Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White was found guilty of six felony charges Feb. 4, Gov. Mitch Daniels appointed
Jerry Bonnet as interim secretary of state. A convicted felon cannot hold statewide office in Indiana.